Wishlist Checked: Seoul International Book Fair 2026

You know it's a good thing when you have something that interests you. Even when you go to the other side of the world, you can survive by doing it again and again. One of my survival kits is everything related to books. I attended Seoul Outdoor Library months ago and I couldn't shut up about it.

Read: Finally, Seoul Outdoor Library

I'm sharing my experience over and over again on every possible occasion, especially on social media when people compare literacy in Indonesia with developed countries.

So, aside from Seoul Outdoor Library, I've actually also tried several other bookish activities. This time, I'll share my experience visiting the Seoul International Book Fair (SIBF, 서울국제도서전). OMG!! One more item off my wishlist!

They say that SIBF is South Korea's largest book festival held annually. It's hosted at the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center in Gangnam. This event connects readers, publishers, authors, translators, and literary agencies from around the world. Yes, it's not exclusively for local publishers, even if, in reality, the majority of them are Korean publishers. Well, that's understandable since it's held in Seoul, right?

The downside of most systems here is that there is barely any English information available. If anything, it's incomplete. If you want to get detailed information, it's probably better to look for the original (which means... Hangul). I didn't understand how to get a ticket until one of my Instagram mutuals showed me during the presale. I thought if I couldn't get one during that period, that was the end of it.

Turns out I could still buy a ticket during the general sale. The only difference is that it's the original price, not the discounted one. 

Make sure you have a Naver account. Then, from there, open the booking page and click on the SIBF page. Luckily, I switched to a phone with AI translation, so I could just click through without the need to take screenshots of everything.You can choose your desired date and then pay. I think it was around 12,000 KRW. Quite pricey for me, it was worth a full meal, LOL.

As I don't really have close friends who are interested in books here, I bravely decided to come ALONE. An introvert like me, coming to a big event by myself. Isn't that a personal upgrade? :))

I came on the first day during lunchtime. And you know what? Even with a ticket in hand, I still needed to exchange it for a wristband. The queue? Around 30 to 45 minutes. In line, I didn't see any other foreigners. Mostly Koreans around my age or younger. Really, it felt like an event set for youngsters, and it was so exciting. Maybe for them, it's something they just can't miss out on.

Before coming, I saw a lot of complaints on Threads: the messed-up lines, hours of waiting, etc. I initially dreaded coming, afraid that I'd face the same. Thankfully, when it was my turn, everything had already been sorted out. I could even enjoy a book while waiting in line.

At the registration desk, I showed my QR code, then got my wristband and a booklet filled with booth information.

Seoul International Book Fair 2026 인간선언: Homo Duduri

Neon green was the color of this year, under the theme Homo duduri. Duduri is an ancient mythical figure in Korean folklore, often associated with the archetype of the dokkaebi (Korean goblin). The name was also once used to describe a blacksmith. Rather than turning away from fire, the blacksmith faces it head-on, harnessing its heat to shape raw materials into tools, objects, and works of art.

The fair presented Artificial Intelligence as a blazing fire: something powerful that can either overwhelm us or become a source of creation. Rather than seeing AI only as an existential threat or simply accepting its fast, probabilistic answers, Homo duduri represents our human instinct to face the fire: to ask new questions, embrace uncertainty and vulnerability, and keep pushing toward deeper, more creative ways of thinking.

My first impression was: OMG, it was so expansive and packed with crowds! I got a headache right away and my energy was drained, LOL. It was that overwhelming.

First of all, I couldn't get enough of the decorations! Especially from the major publishers. They really went all out to create the most eye-pleasing displays possible. Here are some images that I captured.

(PS: I used the help of AI to identify and provide explanations for each picture).

SIBF Curated Thematic Zone & BBK × iloom Lounge

Decorations of raw plywood paneling were accented by neon green graphics of the Homo duduri (SIBF) mascot, paired with an industrial metal-grate runway illuminated by overhead multi-angle floodlights. There was a prompt:“지금, 당신의 질문은 무엇입니까?” (“Now, what is your question?”)

Of course, I had to join in. I think I wrote something like, "Where am I going in the future?" I didn't get to see what others asked, though. It was such an interactive way to engage with visitors.

DongAsia & Hubble (동아시아·허블) (Specializing in Science & Sci-Fi Literature)

A buttery-yellow schoolroom complete with arched doorways and dark green chalkboards detailing daily author book signing schedules (오늘의 사인회). Well, I just realized that it was the color of a schoolroom! 

ELLE Korea (엘르 코리아) & Stonehenge (스톤헨지)

This one I didn't expect at all. Even a magazine publisher can join?? I know ELLE, and some K-pop fans will definitely buy it when their idols are featured inside. It looks like a high-fashion, architectural lounge, featuring matte charcoal and stark white curved archways. 

 

Maeumsancheck (마음산책) × Makitoy

Filled with a warm, Scandinavian-inspired wooden pergola ceiling structure, along with a dramatic suspended paper mobile/chandelier made of hanging manuscript pages and artwork. I like that soft lilac color, though—it really calms your eyes.

There was an accent wall featuring framed botanical prints, poetry excerpts, and the poetic motto:“읽고 쓰며 나아가는 사람들은 결국 만나게 되니까” (“Because people who move forward reading and writing will eventually meet”).

Penguin Random House UK (펭귄랜덤하우스 영국)

I felt familiar with this dedicated mirror selfie photo zone framed entirely with vintage, illustrated classic book covers—including Anne of Green Gables, The Jungle Book, Sherlock Holmes, The Wizard of Oz, and Heidi. Is it the same one they had at the Seoul Outdoor Library?? Who knows.

This booth was filled with sprayed edges that made me want to splurge. However... I resisted, everyone!

WillBook (윌북)

That giant 3D pink-frosted sprinkle donut really catches your eye right away! It had the slogan: “세상에서 제일 맛있는 책을 만듭니다” (“We bake the most delicious books in the world”).

Wisdom House (위즈덤하우스) & wefic

I don't know why, but the tiles reminded me of bathroom walls—aesthetically, at least. The colorful tags were bookmarks and story excerpts for visitors to collect.

Of course, there were A LOT MORE interesting booths. There were even country-specific booths from Taiwan, Thailand, France, and Germany.

It was special for France since marking the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and France, France served as the official Guest of Honor under the slogan "Lire la France" (Reading France). 

At the Thailand booth, they provided food like an all-you-can-eat. So fun! I didn't try any since I didn't know which one was Muslim-friendly (and you know I barely ask, sigh).

I also managed to capture some programs. Yes, this place doesn't only offer things to buy or see; they also have programs with authors: poetry readings, book signings, book talks, etc. You can see the programs you might want to attend on their Instagram page.

This one was author Gu Byeong-mo (구병모)'s book signing.

And this one was a Literature Panel and French Culinary session titled: “세상의 모든 요리, 미식 문화는 어떻게 우리 삶 속에 이야기를 만들어가는가” (All the Dishes of the World: How Gastronomic Culture Creates Stories in Our Lives).

In the sea of Hangul books, could I find something to read? Surprisingly, yes! There was an indie publisher booth called Sojanggak. They specialize in visual culture, stories from Southeast Asia, and hidden viewpoints.

I got one book and one zine. It was my first time buying a zine, and to be honest, it was quite pricey. However, I understand that it was worth their creativity and the effort of the people working behind it. The book discusses the publishing industry in Indonesia, authored by... you can read the details on my Threads, hehe.

It was a nice surprise, though. I'm glad I could get something to enjoy.

The verdict?

It was worth visiting, but please do a lot of research to maximize the experience. Like what kind of programs you want to join, which authors are going to come, etc. I can see that the book industry here isn't just focused on books.

Just like K-pop, they created so many kinds of merchandise: perfume, book keyrings, dolls, and other collectible items. I understand, though, that it is not easy to draw people's attention, especially nowadays when everything is evolving with AI. We just need to be wise about how to spend our money (except if you have an unlimited source of income, lol).

One thing that I'm a bit disappointed about is that there were no Indonesian booths. The internet told me there would be a Gramedia booth, but when I looked in the booklet, there was none. I saw some people wearing batik; probably they were Malaysian? Dunno~

All in all, I'm super happy and grateful to check another item off my wishlist :')

What do you think? Are you interested in joining next year?